Attendance indicating board

ABSTRACT

An attendance indicating board with letters that can be changed and numerals which can be changed quite rapidly by rotating indicator drums on which the numerals are displayed. Rotations of the numeral bearing drums is accomplished by manipulating control discs accessible from the rear of the attendance board and which are connected to the numeral drums by rubber bands to drive the drums when the control discs are rotated. There are plural rows of drums, one row in horizontal alignment with each row of letters. The rubber bands which provide the drive connection between the control discs and the drums also restrain the drums against accidental rotation by urging same transversely against their shafts thereby increasing friction between the drums and the shafts.

United States Patent 1 Jameson [111 332mm 145] Apr. 24, 1973 1 ATTENDANCE INDICATING BOARD [76] Inventor: Walter Lee Jameson, PO. Box 72, Fisher, Ark. 72429 [22] Filed: Apr. 12, 1971 [21] Appl.No.: 133,163

snow: 2

Primary Examiner-Robert W. Michell Assistant Examiner-.1. H. Wolff Att0rney-Walter Kruger [57] ABSTRACT An attendance indicating board with letters that can be changed and numerals which can be changed quite rapidly by rotating indicator drums on which the numerals are displayed. Rotations of the numeral bearing drums is accomplished by manipulating control discs accessible from the rear of the attendance board and which are connected to the numeral drums by rubber bands to drive the drums when the control discs are rotated. There are plural rows of drums, one row in horizontal alignment with each row of letters. The rubber bands which provide the drive connection between the control discs and the drums also restrain the drums against accidental rotation by urging same transversely against their shafts thereby increasing friction between the drums and the shafts.

5 Ciaims, 5 Drawing Figures Patented A ril 24; 1973 3,728,807

2 Sheets-Shet l 1 N VE N TOR M/AL 7'5? 155 JAMESON BY MARKVA, SMITH 4 K9065? ATTORNEYS Patented April 24, 1973 3,728,807

2 Sheets-Shee t 2 This invention relates generally to a display device having changeable indicia, and particularly to such a device in the form of an attendance indicating board which can be used to advantage by churches, and other establishments where current numerical data, such as data indicative of attendance or enrollment, is displayed to an audience.

While changeable display boards and signs are well known in the prior art, there are none in the known art which are particularly adapted for use in schools or churches to display current numerical data to an audience. Among the requirements of such a display device or sign are the following:

1. The display device must have an appearance such that it is harmonious with the surroundings in which it is used.

2. The display device must be of durable construction.

3. Lettering used on the display device must be attractive and relatively easy to mount and change, if necessary.

4. The display device must include a reliable arrangement for rapidly changing the numerical data so the audience is apprised of the data as soon as it becomes available.

5. The numerical data must remain fixed until it is intentionally changed.

Applicants attendance board readily satisfies these requirements. In accordance with this invention, an attendance board is provided in which both letter and numerical data is displayed in a sufficiently large fashion to be visible to the audience situated at a distance from the attendance board. By virtue of the construction of the board both the letters or wording as well as the numerals are visible at a wide angle relative to the face of the board so members of the audience sitting either to the far right or far left of the board can see both the lettering and the numerals. The numerals themselves are mounted on the periphery of narrow drums so situated relative to the face of the board that they are recessed only very slightly from the front surface of the board. By virtue of this arrangement, the numerals are visible even at small acute angles relative to the face of the board yet, are slightly recessed for protection against dust as well as school children or younger members of a congregation.

Advantageously, control discs are provided which are accessible from the rear of the attendance board so the numerals can be changed inconspicuously from a location behind the board while the board is in full view of the audience. Correspondingly, the attendance board of this invention is adapted to be either supported on a flat surface such as a table, or alternatively, can be mounted so it extends across an opening in a wall so ready access to the control elements is provided while the person making the changes in the numerical display remains inconspicuous or hidden from the audience. Alternatively, the attendance board can be removed before the audience is present, can be adjusted to reflect the desired numerical data as soon as the data is known, and can then be displayed to the audience.

Accordingly, an object of this invention is an attendance board which harmonizes with the surroundings in which it is used, in which words or letters are displayed on the face of the board, and in which the board can be readily adjusted to display different numerical data.

Another object is an attendance board for display to an audience characterized by a unique numerical display arrangement which can be quickly changed inconspicuously from a location behind the attendance board.

Another object is a display device in which numerical data can be quickly changed by virute of changeable indicators in the form of drums having numerals on their periphery, in which control elements are mounted behind the drums and are coupled to the drums by means of a band drive, and in which the control elements are accessible only from the rear of the displa device.

A function object is a display device in which the numeral bearing drums and control discs are mounted in horizontal rows on parallel shafts, in which the shafts on which the drums and control elements are mounted are restrained against rotation, in which an elastic band couples a control element to its respective drum, in which the shaft supporting a row of control elements is mounted for rapid removal, and in which the shaft supporting a row of the numerical display drums is also mounted for rapid removal so these elements can be serviced and cleaned when necessary.

Numerous other features, objects, and advantages will become apparent with reference to the drawings which form a part of this specification and in which.

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of the attendance board;

FIG. 2 is a side view in section taken along line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged partial top plan view showing the details of the numeral bearing drums and the control element discs;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partial sectional view in side elevation taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is an enlarged partial sectional view in side elevation taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings in detail and particularly to FIGS. ii and 2, there is shown the attendance board il in accordance with this invention which takes the form of a housing 241. The bottom of the attendance board is generally rectangular configuration whereas the top is trapezoidal. The board has a front panel 2, a trapezoidal top portion 3, a bottom wall 4, and side walls 5 and 6. Trapezoidal top 3 includes sloping upper walls 7 and Q connected by a short top wall 9 The respective walls 4-9 are perpendicular to front panel 2 and extend between and connect a rear panel 10 to the front panel with the rear panel in parallel spaced relation to the front panel. Advantageously, the several walls and panels of the attendance board are formed from wood, such as plywood, to simplify construction and assembly, and the rear panel is hinged to one of the side walls for easy access to the inside of the housing.

Extending along the trapezoidal top 3, walls 5 and 6, and bottom wall t, at the juncture of these walls with the front panel are lenghts ll of angle material such as aluminum, which provide a decorative trim around and thereby frame the attendance board 1.

Secured to the front face 11a of front panel 2 are a plurality of spaced apart horizontal retaining strips 12 and 13 which are arranged in spaced apart pairs. The strips are connected to the front panel, advantageously by screws 14, to facilitate removing or replacing letter bearing strips 15 having letters thereon from a position between the strips. By tightening screws 14 strips 15, which have a vertical height slightly greater than the vertical distance between the strips 12 and 13, can be secured on the front face of panel 2 at a location offset toward the left side of the panel.

The several pairs of strips 12 and 13 cooperate to provide a plurality of spaced apart horizontal rows 16-21 for displaying words and letters as well as readily changeable numerals, in a manner which will subsequently be described in detail.

At the right hand side of the board along each of the rows 16-21 are a plurality of viewing openings such as the openings 22-25 of row 16. Extending vertically between these openings are decorative strips 26 of the same material as the strips 12 and 13 so each opening is framed as shown at FIG. 1.

Within the housing 2a is a changeable indicator system 27 which will now be described in detail. As shown at FIG. 2, there are plural rows 28-33 of indicator drums 34, and corresponding rows 28a-33a of control element discs 35. Each of the rows 32-37 has the same number of indicator drums as there are control element discs in the corresponding rows 28a-33a. Row 28 includes a plurality of indicator drums 34 mounted on a shaft 40 supported within housing 2a so the axis of shaft 40 is parallel with front panel 2. Control discs 35 of row 28a are mounted for rotation on a shaft 41 parallel with, to the rear of, and slightly below shaft 40. The arrangement for the rows 28-33 and 28a-33s is identical, save that some rows may have more indicator drums than other rows.

As shown at FIG. 3, row 28 includes indicator drums 42 and 43, identical to each other and to indicator drum 34. Each drum has a cylindrical circumference on which the numerals 0-9 are applied in any suitable manner, for example, printing on the cylindrical surfaces 44 or gluing these numerals directly on the surfaces 44. A side of each drum is cut away to provide a reduced diameter cylindrical pulley or drive belt surface 45. Cemented or otherwise secured to the reduced diameter end of drum 42 is a drive belt retaining disc 46 which can be formed from paperboard. Disc 46 cooperates with side face 47 of the drum to retain a drive band or belt 48 in the radial groove 49 defined thereby.

Row 28a includes control discs 50 and 51 which are transversely aligned respectively with indicator drums 42 and 43 and are located behind the drums. As shown for control disc 50, each control disc is of a smaller diameter than an indicator drum and includes a cylindrical drive surface 52 with paperboard discs or flanges 53 and 54 secured respctively on opposite sides of the drive surface to retain drive band 48 against axial movement of this surface. The several control discs are each provided with a centrallylocated opening for rotatably mounting same on shaft 41. Similarly, the indicator drums are provided with centrally located axially extending openings for rotatably mounting same on shaft 40. Spacer blocks 55 are mounted on shaft 40 between the drums to maintain the drums in proper spaced apart relationship on the shaft.

As shown at FIG. 3, rear panel 10 is provided with a plurality of access openings such as openings 57 and 58. Shafts 41 for the several rows of control discs are so positioned in housing 2a, and the control disc elements are so dimensioned that flange portions 53 and 54 extend completely through opening 57 and drive surface 50 is essentially tangent to the plane of the rear surface of rear panel 10.

With reference to FIG. 2, it will be observed that viewing openings such as opening 22 in front panel 2 has top and bottom edges 60 and 61 which, as viewed in side elevation, diverge in a direction toward rear panel 10. In addition, as shown at FIG. 3, opening 22 has side edges 62 and 63 which diverge in a direction toward rear panel 10. Such diverging edges at the several viewing openings in front panel 2 provide for locating each of the indicator drums with the display surface 44 within the recesses formed by these diverging edges so the numerals on the display surfaces are very closely adjacent the front surface of front panel 2. In this regard, it will be observed from FIGS. 2 and 3 that the several shafts 40 are so positioned and that the several indicator drums are so located that each of the drums extends into the recessed region between the diverging side edges of each viewing opening.

Shafts 40 and 41 are each mounted in housing 2a against rotation, but in such a manner that the shafts and the control discs and indicator drums thereon can be readily removed for servicing such as cleaning, or for repair. In the preferred embodiment, an intermediate wall 65 (FIGS. 1 and 5) is located midway between side wall 5 and side wall 6. Secured to intermediate wall 65 adjacent rear panel 10 is a control element shaft retaining strip 66. Strip 66 is elongated, as shown at FIG. 2, and is provided with a plurality of rearwardly sloping upwardly opening grooves or notches 67. Advantageously, each notch has a width greater than the diameter of the tubular support shaft 41 for the control discs. However, a short end portion 68 of shaft 41 is flattened'so the end becomes generally elliptical and has a width the sameas the width of the slot. Hence, sliding flattened end 68 into slot 67 mounts the shaft 41 against rotation.

Also mounted on intermediate wall 65 are a plurality of mounting blocks 69 each of which supports an end 70 of a shaft 40 for the indicator drums. Mounting blocks 69 each have a vertical slot portion 71 with a closed bottom, and a diagonally extending upper portion 72 which opens in a direction toward rear panel 10. The flattened end 70 of shaft 40 is held against rotation in the vertical slot portion 71.

The opposite ends 73 and 74 of the respective shafts- 40 and 41 are supported adjacent side wall 6, as shown at FIG. 4. With reference to FIG. 4, it will be observed that a control disc shaft support strip 75 is secured to side panel 6 adjacent the rear panel 10. Strip 75 has a plurality of diagonally upwardly opening slots 76 to receive and support the ends 74 of shafts 41. There are also mounting blocks 77 having a slot including a vertical slot portion 79 and a diagonally extending slot portion 80 which opens in a direction toward rear panel 10. Slot 76 is advantageously made slightly wider than slot 67 and end '74 of shaft 41 is cylindrical not flattened, so it can merely be inserted into the slot in a downward and forward direction. Similarly, slot portions 79 and 80 are made of sufficient width to receive cylindrical end 73 of shaft 40. There are of course a sufficient number of slots 67 and 76 in the respective support strips 66 and 75 to support the shafts 41 of the rows 28a-33a. The respective slots 67 and 76 are arranged in horizontal alignment so the several shafts 411 are in spaced apart parallel relation to each other and extend horizontally when the board is in the position of FIG. 1. Similarly, the respective mounting blocks 69 and 77 are horizontally aligned and there are a sufficient number of such blocks to support each of the shafts 40 of rows 28-32 in spaced apart parallel relation to each other. Of course, shafts 40 and 41 each have a length slightly less than the distance between side wall 6 and intermediate wall 65.

To change lettering on the sign it is merely necessary to loosen the strips 12 and 13 whereupon the lettering strips 15 can be removed, the letters thereon can be changed, or alternatively, new strips 15 with the desired lettering thereon can be placed between retaining strips 12 and 13.

To change the numerical indications appearing at the viewing windows 22-25, for example, it is merely necessary for the person making the change to rotate the desired one of the control discs, for example, the control disc 50 whereupon the indicator drum 42 to which the control disc is connected by the elastic band 48 is correspondingly rotated so the desired numeral appears at the viewing window. Similarly, the numerals appearing at each of the other windows can be changed by appropriately rotating the control disc for the desired indicator drum.

Advantageously, drive bands 48 are formed from a highly elastic material and may be take the form of a rubber band. The length of the band is so selected that there is tension in the band sufficient to tend to urge a control disc toward the indicia drum which it controls.

By virtue of the tension in the band each control disc is forced transversely against shaft 41 and each drum is forced transversely against shaft 40. These'forces tend to increase the frictional forces resisting rotation of both the control discs and the drums. By virtue of this friction, each drum is restrained against accidental or inadvertent rotation with the result that the indicia drums remain in the position to which they are set by manipulating the control discs, even though the bearing openings of the drums or discs become worn.

As will be observed with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5, the forces acting on shafts 40 and 41 as a result of the action of the several drive bands 48 is such that these shafts are urged toward each other. By virtue of the. vertical slot portions 71 and 79 of the respective mounting blocks 69 and 77, the force from the drive bands tends to pull shaft 40 downwardly so it is firmly seated in the mounting blocks. Similarly, since the slots 67 and 76 open rearwardly at an acute angle of approximately 30 to horizontal, the force from the drive bands tend to retain the shafts 41 seated in the respective slots 67 and 76. However, the shafts 40 and 41 and the discs and drums thereon can be readily removed from the housing by first lifting shaft 40 and moving same rearwardly, and then lifting shaft 41 and simultaneously moving both shafts rearwardly out of the housing. it may also be necessary to tilt shaft 40 sligthly to clear the narrow support strips 66 and 75.

While a preferred embodiment of the attendance board according to this invention has been shown and described herein, it is to be understood that numerous changes can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the intended scope of this invention as defined herein and in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. An attendance board for displaying current data to an audience comprising, in combination a housing including a front panel having a plurality of viewing openings;

means on the front panel for replaceably receiving indicia in a plurality of horizontal rows;

a first shaft;

a plurality of rotatable changeable indicators, each comprising a drum,

means on the drum for mounting the drum for rotation on the first shaft,

a pulley portion connected to the drum for rotating the drum in response to rotation of the pulley portion, and

indicia on the circumference of the drum whereby, there are a plurality of drums and pulley portions connected to the drums on the first shaft;

means supported by the housing for mounting the first shaft behind the front panel, generally parallel to the'rows, and with the indicia of the drums adjacent to and visible through the viewing openings of the front panel;

a second shaft;

means engaging the second shaft for mounting the second shaft on the housing in fixed, parallel spaced relation with respect to the first shaft;

means to manually change the rotational position of the drums to expose selected indicia on the circumference of the drums for view through the viewing openings from a location in front of the front panel, said means comprising a plurality of pulleys associated respectively with the pulley portions of the drums,

means on the pulleys mounting the pulleys for rotation on the second shaft,

a plurality of elastic drive bands extending respectively around the respective pulley portions of the drums and their respective associated pulleys, so each pulley portion is interconnected with its associated pulley by an elastic band, and a selected drum is rotated in response to rotation of a selected pulley;

said elastic drive bands exening a force tending to pull each drum generally toward its associated pulley to maintain the drums and'pulleys in frictional engagement with the shafts on which they are mounted to avoid accidental rotational displacement of the drums and to maintain the drums in the rotational positions to which they are set by rotation of the pulleys; and

means maintaining said first and second shafts rotationally fixed with respect to each other so that only a selected drum is rotated in response to rotation of its associated pulley.

2. An attendance board according to claim 1 wherein said means maintaining said first and second shafts rotationally fixed with respect to each other includes a flattened portion of the first shaft,

a stop connected to the housing and having a surface engaging the flattened portion of the first shaft to prevent rotation of the first shaft,

a flattened portion on the second shaft,

a second stop connected to the housing and having a surface engaging the flattened portion of the second shaft to prevent rotation of the second shaft.

3. An attendance board according to claim 1 wherein the front panel has a front face and a rear face;

the viewing openings in the front panelthrough which the indicia on the surface of the drums are viewed each have side edges diverging in a direction toward the rear face of the front panel; and

the drums extend at least partly into the viewing openings.

4. An attendance board according to claim 1 which further includes pulleys axially 5. An attendance board according to claim 1 which further includes a plurality of additional first shafts parallel with the previously mentioned first shaft;

a plurality of additional second shafts parallel with the previously mentioned second shafts;

a plurality of additional rotatable changeable indicators like said aforementioned changeable indicators and mounted on said first shafts; and

additional means to manually change the rotational position of the additional rotatable changeable indicators and mounted on said second shafts. 

1. An attendance board for displaying current data to an audience comprising, in combination a housing including a front panel having a plurality of viewing openings; means on the front panel for replaceably receiving indicia in a plurality of horizontal rows; a first shaft; a plurality of rotatable changeable indicators, each comprising a drum, means on the drum for mounting the drum for rotation on the first shaft, a pulley portion connected to the drum for rotating the drum in response to rotation of the pulley portion, and indicia on the circumference of the drum whereby, there are a plurality of drums and pulley portions connected to the drums on the first shaft; means supported by the housing for mounting the first shaft behind the front panel, generally parallel to the rows, and with the indicia of the drums adjacent to and visible through the viewing openings of the front panel; a second shaft; means engaging the second shaft for mounting the second shaft on the housing in fixed, parallel spaced relation with respect to the first shaft; means to manually change the rotational position of the drums to expose selected indicia on the circumference of the drums for view through the viewing openings from a location in front of the front panel, said means comprising a plurality of pulleys associated respectively with the pulley portions of the drums, means on the pulleys mounting the pulleys for rotation on the second shaft, a plurality of elastic drive bands extending respectively around the respective pulley portions of the drums and their respective associated pulleys, so each pulley portion is interconnected with its associated pulley by an elastic band, and a selected drum is rotated in response to rotation of a selected pulley; said elastic drive bands exerting a force tending to pull each drum generally toward its associated pulley to maintain the drums and pulleys in frictional engagement with the shafts on which they are mounted to avoid accidental rotational displacement of the drums and to maintain the drums in the rotational positions to which they are set by rotation of the pulleys; and means maintaining said first and second shafts rotationally fixed with respect to each other so that only a selected drum is rotated in response to rotation of its associated pulley.
 2. An attendance board according to claim 1 wherein said means maintaining said first and second shafts rotationally fixed with respect to each other includes a flattened portion of the first shaft, a stop connected to the housing and having a surface engaging the flattened portion of the first shaft to prevent rotation of the first shaft, a flattened portion on the second shaft, a second stop connected to the housing and having a surface engaging the flattened portion of the second shaft to prevent rotation of the second shaft.
 3. An attendance board according to claim 1 wherein the front panel has a front face and a rear face; the viewing openings in the front panel through which the indicia on the surface of the drums are viewed each have side edges diverging in a direction toward the rear face of the front panel; and the drums extend at least partly into the viewing openings.
 4. An attendance board according to claim 1 which further includes a rear panel secured to said housing in spaced parallel relation to the front panel; the rear panel having a plurality of horizontally spaced access openings therein; the means mounting the pulleys on said second shaft permit movement of the pulleys axially along the shaft; said pulley each having side faces transverse to the second shaft; said access openings each having side edges spaced apart a distance greater than the distance between the side faces of the pulleys; and the pulleys extending respectively into the respective access openings with the side faces of each pulley in confronting closely adjacent relation to the side edges of its access opening so the side edges of an opening maintain the pulley therein at a predetermined axial position on the second shaft.
 5. An attendance board according to claim 1 which further includes a plurality of additional first shafts parallel with the previously mentioned first shaft; a plurality of additional second shafts parallel with the previously mentioned second shafts; a plurality of additional rotatable changeable indicators like said aforementioned changeable indicators and mounted on said first shafts; and additional means to manually change the rotational position of the additional rotatable changeable indicators and mounted on said second shafts. 